Structure of Matter
Use the table below to answer the following question.
1. During the water cycle, when water vapor changes to
liquid water, it is called (S8P1e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
evaporation
condensation
freezing
boiling
2. Carbon atoms have 6 protons and 6 neutrons in the
nucleus. They also have 6 electrons outside the nucleus.
What is carbon’s atomic number and atomic mass?
(S8P1f)
A.
B.
C.
D.
atomic number = 12; atomic mass = 12
atomic number = 6; atomic mass = 18
atomic number = 6; atomic mass =12
atomic number = 12; atomic mass = 18
3. Bill has an unknown liquid. In five different tests the
liquid shows the same properties as water. Bill can
conclude that the liquid (S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
is definitely water
cannot be water
is partly water
could be water
4. Students in three different groups found the density of
some coins. Each group was given four coins. Their results
are shown in the table below.
5. The table lists the volume and mass of four substances.
Which substance has the lowest density? (S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
brick
ice
water
wax
6. Evidence of a chemical change would be a (S8P1e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
melting Popsicle
spinning top
spilled bucket of water
rusting car fender
7. Mary wants to find the density of a small stone. Which
tools will she need? (S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
a meter stick and a thermometer
a thermometer and a balance
a balance and a graduated cylinder
a graduated cylinder and a meter stick
8. A hot air balloon rises because (S8P1c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
molecules become lighter when heated
molecules move faster and farther apart when heated
molecules are less attracted by gravity when heated
molecules become charged and repel each other when
heated
9. A teaspoon of salt is dissolved in a quart of water.
Which of the following is true? (S8P1e)
All of the following are valid conclusions based on the data
except (S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Group A’s coins were different than Group B’s.
Groups A’s coins were all the same type.
Groups B’s coins were not all the same type.
Group C’s coins were not all the same type.
Page 1 of 20
A. The salt can be separated from the water by filtering
the solution through a fine cloth.
B. The salt grains can be seen in the solution with a
microscope.
C. The salt will eventually settle out.
D. The salt can be separated from the water by boiling
off the water.
10. If different kinds of atoms are represented by different
colored dots, which picture represents a sample of a
compound? (S8P1b)
14. How many atoms are in one molecule of NH 3? (S8P1a)
A.
B.
Use the model below of a sulfuric acid molecule to answer
the following question.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
2
3
4
6
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
11. Beaker A contains water. Beaker B contains copper
pellets. When the copper pellets from Beaker B are poured
into Beaker A, what will be the water level in Beaker A?
(S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
below the 150 mL mark
at the 150 mL mark
above the 150 mL mark, but below the 200 mL mark
at the 200 mL mark
12. Which statement about the molecules in ice and the
molecules in liquid water is correct? (S8P1c)
A. The molecules in ice have more energy than the
molecules in liquid water.
B. The molecules in ice contain different atoms than the
molecules in liquid water.
C. The molecules in ice move less freely than the
molecules in liquid water.
D. The molecules in ice can move more freely than the
molecules in liquid water.
13. Because calcium cannot be changed by simple
chemical methods into two or more different substances, it
is classified as (S8P1b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
an element
a compound
a mixture
a base
Page 2 of 20
15. According to the model, which is the formula for
sulfuric acid? (S8P1a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
H2OS
HS2O4
H2SO4
HSO3
16. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is made of carbon and oxygen
(S8P1a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
atoms
compounds
electrons
molecules
17. If you dissolved a lot of salt in some water in a large
flat dish and put the dish in bright sunlight on a hot day,
what would be left in the dish after a long time? (S8P1e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
dry salt
water with no salt
the same salty water as before
nothing
18. The elements in the periodic table are arranged from
(S8P1f)
A.
B.
C.
D.
softest to hardest
acids to bases
low to high atomic numbers
gases to solids
19. Which is the basic unit of all matter? (S8P1a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
atom
compound
electron
molecule
22. All of the following except one are made up of atoms.
Which one is NOT made up of atoms? (S8P1a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
energy
people
gasoline
sodium chloride
Use the pictures below to answer the following question .
23. The mass of a solid object stays the same until (S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
20. When a rock is put in a pail of water, the water comes
up to the line shown above. Which picture shows where the
water level would be if the rock were broken into two
pieces? (S8P1g)
it is put into orbit in space
it changes volume by expanding or contracting
matter is taken away from or added to the object
the object is taken to another planet where the force
of gravity is different
24. When water boils (S8P1e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
a physical change takes place
a chemical change takes place
it breaks down into atoms
a new substance is formed
A.
Use the pictures below to answer the following question .
B.
25. A rock is put into a pail that has some water in it.
Before the rock is put into the pail, the water is at the 5liter line. After the rock is added, the water rises to the 6liter line. The space taken up by the rock is (This is a
measurement/experimental design question.)
C.
A.
B.
C.
D.
D.
21. William put a sugar cube in a cup of hot water. After a
period of time, what happened to the sugar cube? (S8P1e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
It dissolved.
It stayed on the bottom of the cup.
It evaporated.
It changed color.
Page 3 of 20
1 liter
5 liters
6 liters
11 liters
26. In which substance are the molecules closest to each
other? (S8P1c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
steam
water
oil
iron
27. Plastic, wood, and iron are ALL made of (S8P1a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
energy
plant or animal cells
carbon molecules
atoms
28. If you added sand to a container until you doubled the
container’s weight, you would also double the container’s
(S8P1d)
32. Jeff has two different metal samples. Which tools
would Jeff MOST LIKELY use to compare the two
metals? (This is a measurements/experimental design
question related to S8P1d.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
litmus paper and ruler
ruler and balance scales
thermometer and litmus paper
balance scales and thermometer
Use the table below to answer the following question.
A.
B.
C.
D.
volume
temperature
mass
pressure
29. Which of the following combine to form a molecule?
(S8P1a)
A. atoms
B. neutrons
C. mixtures
D. protons
Use the pictures below to answer the following question.
33. All of the elements we know are shown in this table.
This table is called (S8P1f)
A.
B.
C.
D.
the molecular table
the atomic theory table
the matter table
the periodic table
34. When water gets very hot it changes to (S8P1e)
30. Two objects of different shapes are each made from 6
cubes stuck together as shown above. If all the cubes are
exactly alike, how do the two objects compare in weight
and volume? (S8P1d,g)
A.
B.
C.
D.
air.
ice.
steam.
liquid.
Use the diagrams below to answer the following question.
A. Both weigh the same and have the same volume
B. Both weigh the same but object 1 has the greater
volume
C. Object 2 weighs more and has the greater volume
D. Object 1 weighs more but both have the same volume
31. A different chemical substance is formed when
(S8P1e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
a cloth is cut
a cup breaks
a candle burns
a piece of chalk falls
35. The diagrams represent the movement and
distribution of particles in different states of matter.
Which statement about the diagrams is true? (S8P1c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Page 4 of 20
A is the liquid, B is the solid, and C is the gas.
A is the liquid, B is the gas, and C is the solid.
A is the solid, B is the gas, and C is the liquid.
A is the solid, B is the liquid, and C is the gas.
36. Flour is a fine powder obtained by grinding wheat or
other cereal grains. A pile of grain burns very slowly
whereas flour dust suspended in air is explosive. Which is
the best explanation of this? (S8P1e)
Use the picture to answer the following question.
A. The heat produced when small particles burn is
greater than the heat produced by the burning of large
particles of the same substance.
B. Grinding the grain changes its chemical composition.
C. For the same quantity of material, small particles
have a greater surface area in contact with air than
large particles.
D. Small particles possess more energy than large
particles.
37. Connie adds a package of powdered drink mix and
some sugar to a pitcher of water, then stirs it well. What is
the best description of the substance in the pitcher?
(S8P1b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
It is an element.
It is a compound.
It is a mixture of elements.
It is a mixture of compounds.
-----------------------------------------------------Energy
1. A person wants curtains that let in some light but
prevent people outside from seeing into the house. The best
choice of material would be one that is (S8P4d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
opaque
reflecting
transparent
translucent
4. Three identical light bulbs are connected in parallel
with a battery, as shown above, and all are lit. If bulb I is
unscrewed and removed, what will happen to the other
two light bulbs? (S8P5b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Both will stay lit.
II will go out, but III will stay lit.
II will stay lit, but III will go out.
Both will go out.
5. Denny pedals his bicycle to the top of a small hill and
stops to rest. What kind of energy does Denny’s bicycle
now have? (S8P2b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
all kinetic energy
all potential energy
some potential energy and some kinetic energy
no energy at all
6. Which item is the best conductor of heat? (S8P2d)
A.
2. The major reason for burning gasoline in an automobile
engine is to convert (S8P2c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
chemical energy to mechanical energy
kinetic energy to potential energy
radiation to electrical energy
thermal energy to electrical energy
3. Which test would determine that an electric current is
flowing in a straight copper wire connected to a battery?
(S8P5c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Page 5 of 20
Touch the wire.
Hold a flashlight bulb near the wire.
Hold a small compass near the wire.
Disconnect the wire form the battery.
B.
C.
D
.
12. Which occurs when light bounces off a smooth, hard
surface? (S8P4b)
7. Which picture could show the direction of the electrical
current in the circuit? (S8P5b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
absorption
reflection
magnetism
magnification
13. A student rides a bike at night and wants to add a light
to the front of the bike. A good power source for the light
will be (S8P2a)
A.
B.
A.
B.
C.
D.
C.
an electromagnet
an electric motor
a generator
a transformer
14. Which of the following best explains why the end of a
spoon sticking out of a cup of hot water also gets hot?
(S8P2d)
D.
8. Which color reflects all colors of light? (S8P4c)
A. black
B. white
C. green
D. red
A. The hot water causes a chemical reaction to take
place in the spoon.
B. The heat from the hot water is conducted to the spoon
C. The hot water heats the air surrounding the upper part
of the spoon.
D. The hot water causes a physical change in the spoon
handle.
Use the pictures below to answer the following question.
9. As Maria stood knee-deep in the ocean, she noted how
high the waves came up on her compared to the day
before. Which property of waves was Maria observing?
(S8P4f)
A.
B.
C.
D.
frequency
wavelength
amplitude
speed
10. Materials that absorb all light hitting them are
(S8P4b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
opaque
transparent
luminous
translucent
11. The color red that we see depends upon the (S8P4c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Page 6 of 20
speed of the red light wave
wavelength of the red light wave
temperature of the red light wave
direction of the red light wave
15. When do the waves created by a rock dropped into a
puddle of water have the least amount of energy? (S8P4a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
when they are farthest from the source
when they are closest to the source
when the object hits the water
when they are halfway to the edge of the pond
16. When a rock is thrown straight up into the air, it
reaches its highest point and briefly comes to a complete
stop before it starts to fall back to the ground. Which is
greatest at the point where the rock stops? (S8P2b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
potential energy
kinetic energy
force due to gravity
friction due to moving air
17. When Marcia yelled from the top of a canyon, an echo
was created. This happened because the sound waves of
her voice bounced back from the canyon walls. Which
property of waves occurred? (S8P4b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
diffraction
reflection
interference
refraction
18. When walking along an asphalt street after sundown,
a person often feels heat coming off the pavement. The
heat is moving from the asphalt to the person by (S8P2d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
conduction
convection
expansion
radiation
19. Which material is translucent? (S8P4b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
clear glass
clean air
concrete
waxed paper
20. Which tool should a class use to separate light into the
visible spectrum? (S8P4b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
magnifying glass
prism
microscope
mirror
21. Why are light-colored clothes cooler to wear in the
summer than dark-colored clothes? (S8P4b)
A. Light-colored clothes let more air in.
B. Light-colored clothes prevent sweating.
C. Light colored clothes are not as heavy as darkcolored clothes.
D. Light-colored clothes reflect more light than darkcolored clothes.
22. When light hits a dark object, most of the light is
(S8P4b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
absorbed
reflected
diffused
refracted
Page 7 of 20
23. A family is building an outdoor shower at their cottage
by hanging a plastic container from a post, as shown
above. The container will be exposed to full sunlight. What
color should the container be to make the water as warm
as possible? (S8P4b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
white
yellow
black
red
24. Which of these will reflect the most light? (S8P4b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
an apple
a mirror
a book
a dog
25. Which demonstrates that light travels in straight
lines? (S8P4a)
A. the forming of shadows
B. the speed of light
C. the rainbow effect
D. the brightness of the Sun
26. Which is an example of an opaque material? (S8P4b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
clear glass
brick wall
waxed paper
colored paper
27. In which circuit will the bulb light up? (S8P5b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
30. The batteries in a flashlight make electricity using
(S8P2a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
chemical energy
solar energy
heat energy
mechanical energy
31. When electricity moves through a metal wire, the wire
is (S8P2d)
28. Which electromagnet will pick up the most paper
clips? (S8P5c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
a conductor
an insulator
a generator
a multiplier
32. Which is an insulator? (S8P2d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
copper coin
aluminum ladder
glass
water
33. An advantage of an electromagnet compared to a
permanent magnet is that it is (S8P5c)
29. Which material is the best conductor of electricity?
(S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
wood
rubber
plastic
copper
Page 8 of 20
A.
B.
C.
D.
less complex
smaller
easily turned off
safer
34. Which diagram is a parallel circuit? (S8P5b)
A.
B.
D.
C.
38. The bulb in the electric circuit will NOT light because
(S8P5b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
the switch is too far away from the bulb
the bulb has to be larger
the wires are not long enough
there is no energy source
39. In old movies, people sometimes put their ear on a
railroad track to see if a train is coming. This works
because the iron rail (S8P4e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
is heated by friction
carries sound better than air
is cooler than air
is connected directly to the train
Use the wave chart below to answer the following question.
35. Which item would conduct electricity? (S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
a glass cup
a chicken feather
a plastic straw
a metal fork
36. An electromagnet has just enough strength to pick up
five paper clips. Which would most likely happen if ten
more loops of wire were wrapped around the nail? (S8P5c)
A. Exactly two clips would fall off the nail.
B. All of the clips would fall off the nail.
C. The electromagnet would be able to pick up more
clips.
D. The strength of the electromagnet would stay the
same.
37. A farmer is building an electric fence. Which material
would be best to attach the fence wire to trees so the trees
are protected from the electricity? (S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
plastic
aluminum
copper
gold
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
Page 9 of 20
40. At which point in the series of waves is the frequency
the lowest? (S8P4f)
A.
B.
C.
D.
point A
point B
point C
point D
41. A guitar string makes a higher-pitched sound when
you tighten the string. Which of the following explains why
tightening the string causes this change? (S8P4e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
It changes the shape of the guitar.
It causes the string to get thinner.
Tightening the string makes it vibrate faster.
Tightening the string makes it longer.
42. Sound does not move through (S8P4e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
air
outer space
rocks
water
Use the diagrams below to answer the following question.
48. Which uses electricity to make sound? (S8P2a)
B.
A.
C.
D.
43. Sound A has a shorter wavelength than Sound B. This
means that Sound A will (S8P4e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
be louder than Sound B.
be softer than Sound B.
have a lower pitch than Sound B.
have a higher pitch than Sound B.
44. Sound can travel fastest through (S8P4e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
air
metal
water
outer space
45. Hilda shouts “hello” in an empty hall at the shopping
mall. The sound bounces off the walls and she hears
“hello” over and over again. Hilda has just made (S8P4e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
a recording
an echo
a circuit
a wavelength
49. When you run fast, you feel hot. Where does this heat
come from? (S8P2a)
A. clothes you wear
B. food you eat
C. water you drink
D. heat from the ground
50. Four different spoons were put into a pan of boiling
water. Which spoon will have a hot handle first? (S8P2d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
metal spoon
rubber spoon
wooden spoon
plastic spoon
51. Jane put a glass of water in the sun. She measured the
temperature every minute. Jane made this table. (Good
question on predicting.)
46. Sound waves are produced by (S8P4e)
A.
B.
C.
D.
gravity
heat
vibration
light
47. When heat is added to water, the water gets (S8P2a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
warm
cool
light
dark
The temperature at Minute 3 is MOST LIKELY
A.
B.
C.
D.
52. Heat, light, and electricity are all forms of (S8P2a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Page 10 of 20
18C
20C
21C
24C
atoms
energy
cells
motion
53. When one end of a steel rod is held in a flame, the
other end also gets hot. This happens because steel (S8P2d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
makes its own heat
is a good conductor of heat
makes the flame hotter
keeps cold away from the flame
55. Jo’s hot chocolate is too hot to drink, so she puts an ice
cube in it. Why does the drink get cooler? (S8P2d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Heat from the ice is lost to the drink.
Heat from the drink is lost to the ice.
The ice gives the drink a larger volume.
The ice gives the drink a pale color.
Use this picture to answer the question below:
Use this picture to answer the question below:
54. Which graph shows how hot the fire makes each
person feel? (S8P2d)
A.
56. On a sunny day, which takes the longest to get warm?
(S8P2a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
the rocks
the sand
the lake
the sidewalk
57. When water gets very hot it changes to (S8P1d)
A.
B.
C.
D.
air.
ice.
steam.
liquid.
58. When a hot rock is put in cool water (S8P2d)
B.
C.
D.
Page 11 of 20
A.
B.
C.
D.
the water gets warmer and the rock cools down.
the water cools down and the rock gets warmer.
the water and rock both get warmer.
the water and rock both get cooler
59. In the pictures below, the candle is heating the water
in the tank. Which picture shows how the water will move
as it gets hot? (S8P2d)]
2. When you bend your arm at the elbow, the bones and
muscles in your arm are acting as a system. What simple
machine does this system represent? (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
inclined plane
pulley
wedge
lever
3. On Earth, an astronaut has a mass of 140 kg. When the
astronaut goes into space, she (S8P5a)
A. will have a mass of 140 kg, but will have less weight.
B. will have less mass and weight.
C. will have a mass and weight of 140 kg
D. will have less mass and a weight of 140 kg.
B.
C.
4. The muscles, bones, and elbow in the arm act together
as a lever. Which model best describes the lever? (S8P3c)
A. The muscle provides the force; the elbow is the
fulcrum.
B. The muscle provides the force; the bone is the
fulcrum.
C. The bone provides the force; the elbow is the
fulcrum.
D. The elbow provides the force; the bone is the
fulcrum.
Use the graph below to answer the following question.
D.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------Motion/Forces/Energy
Use the diagram below to answer the following question.
1. The board is holding some heavy blocks. All of the
blocks are the same size and weight. If you wanted to make
the board balance, at which point should you put the
support? (S8P3 b, c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
point A
point B
point C
point D
Page 12 of 20
5. During a workout, a swimmer varies speed during
warm-up and cool-down. During which time interval is the
speed of the swimmer the greatest? (S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
0-3.0 minutes
3.0 – 6.5 minutes
6.5-9.0 minutes
9.0 – 12.0 minutes
Use the diagram below to answer the following question.
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
9. Tom weighs 600 N and is 2 m from the center of a
seesaw. Gloria, who weighs 400 N, wants to sit on the
seesaw across from Tom. In order to balance the seesaw,
how far from the center should Gloria sit? (S8P3c)
6. A person dives out of a nonmoving boat in the direction
indicated by Arrow A. Which arrow shows the direction in
which the boat would move? (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Arrow A
Arrow B
Arrow C
Arrow D
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
A.
B.
C.
D.
1m
2m
3m
4m
10. Which term refers to the rate of change of motion?
(S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
acceleration
speed
momentum
velocity
11. What must happen to an object in order to accelerate
it? (S8P3a)
7. Which simple machine is a pair of scissors? (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
wheel and axle
pulley
inclined plane
lever
A.
B.
C.
D.
A net force must be applied.
Some weight must be removed.
Its frictional coefficient must be reduced.
It must contain momentum.
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
8. To lift an object weighing 1000 newtons a distance of 1
meter using a block and tackle system of pulleys similar to
the one pictured, you exert a constant force at the end of
the rope for a distance of 10 meters. Which size force must
you exert? (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
10 newtons
100 newtons
200 newtons
1000 newtons
Page 13 of 20
12. Carissa holds two spheres the same distance from the
floor and drops them. Sphere A is twice as heavy as sphere
B. What happens if she lets go of both at exactly the same
time? (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Sphere A hits the floor a little before Sphere B.
Sphere B hits the floor first.
Both spheres hit the floor at the same time.
Sphere A takes half as long to hit the floor as Sphere
B.
13. Which is true about the relationship between an
object’s mass and its weight? (S8P5a)
A. The object’s mass is caused by the weight of the
object pushing downward.
B. Weight is gravity’s force on an object, which is
determined by its mass.
C. An object’s weight and mass are the same, but they
are measured differently.
D. An object’s weight and mass are independent of each
other.
14. On Earth, a box has a mass of 50 kg. On the Moon, the
box would have (S8P5a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
greater mass
greater weight
the same mass
the same weight
18. Which simple machine is shown in the picture?
(S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
pulley
wheel and axle
lever
inclined plane
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
Use the graph below to answer the following question.
19. According to Bernoulli’s principle what should happen
when air is blown through the straw and under the paper
bridge? (S8P3b)
16. According to the graph, what was the speed of the
object? (S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
2 m/hr
25 m/hr
50 m/hr
100 m/hr
17. Which is a result of the effect of gravity? (S8P5a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Rocket engines can force objects into space.
Air friction causes falling objects to slow down.
Released objects always fall toward Earth’s surface.
Airplanes are able to fly without falling to the
ground.
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
A.
B.
C.
D.
20. Which statement is correct concerning the mass of a
ball of clay? (S8P5a, S8P1g)
A. The mass changes as the altitude of the ball of clay
changes.
B. The mass changes as the shape of the ball changes.
C. The mass of the ball of clay is unchanged by altitude
or shape.
D. The mass is doubled when the ball of clay is divided
in two equal pieces.
21 A hockey puck sits motionless at one end of an empty
ice rink until it is hit with a stick. Unless friction slows it
down, the puck will travel to the other end of the rink.
This is an example of (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Page 14 of 20
The paper will sink lower in the middle.
The paper’s position will not change.
The paper will rise into the air.
The paper will rise and flip over.
Newton’s First law of Motion
Newton’s Second Law of Motion
Newton’s Third Law of Motion
Newton’s Law of Gravitation
22. The tendency for a body at rest to remain at rest is
known as (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
inertia
torque
momentum
mass
23. Which force causes a moving object to slow and then
stop? (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
acceleration
inertia
friction
lift
24. A small steel ball bearing and a large glass marble
were dropped from the same height at the same instant.
Which would happen? (S8P5a)
A. They would hit the floor at the same time.
B. The steel ball bearing would hit first because it is
smaller.
C. The glass marble would hit first because it is larger.
D. The steel ball bearing would hit first because it is
heavier.
Use the chart below to answer the following question.
25. A racecar completes its laps as shown. The chart
indicates that the car is (S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
accelerating
increasing inertia
maintaining its velocity
increasing its potential energy
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
26. Anne is testing toy carts by seeing how fast they are
rolling when they reach the end of a ramp she built. How
can she change the investigation so the carts will be going
faster when they reach the end? (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
27. Which type of force causes a moving train to come to a
stop? (S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
gravitational
frictional
magnetic
chemical
28. The force that keeps a communications satellite in
orbit around Earth is (S8P3b, S8P5a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
gravity
friction
magnetism
electricity
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
29. Harry was standing. Now he is running. When he is
running he has more (S8P2b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
potential energy
kinetic energy
mass
gravity
30. What force pulls things toward the center of Earth?
(S8P5a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Page 15 of 20
Add carpet to the surface of the ramp.
Start the cars further down the ramp.
Raise the angle of the ramp.
Take some weight off of the carts.
friction
gravity
magnetism
electricity
31. Objects in an orbiting space shuttle float because
(S8P5a)
A. the space shuttle slows down when it reaches orbit
B. Earth’s gravity has less effect on objects as they get
farther away from Earth.
C. the weight of the object is less when orbiting the
Earth
D. the space shuttle’s engines cause too much vibration
for objects to remain still
32. The Sun’s gravity holds each planet in its orbit. Pluto
is farther away from the Sun than Earth is. How does the
effect of the Sun’s gravity on Pluto compare with the effect
of the Sun’s gravity on Earth? (S8P5a)
A. The Sun has the same gravitational pull on all planets
that are in orbit.
B. The Sun has more gravitational pull on Pluto because
it is smaller.
C. The Sun has less gravitational pull on Earth because
it is closer
D. The Sun has less gravitational pull on Pluto because
it is farther away.
33. The school bus is moving at 55 miles per hour. Before
it can go 60 miles per hour, (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
an additional force must act on the bus
the bus must have more inertia
a physical change must happen
there must be less air resistance
34. Suppose that you want to drop a penny and a quarter
at exactly the same time and have them hit the floor at
exactly the same time. Which picture BEST shows how
you should hold the penny (P) and the quarter (Q) just
before you drop them? (Experimental Design)
D.
35. Which of the following BEST describes “distance”?
(S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
a large, flat space
how long it takes for something to happen
a long way to go
how far it is between two points
36. A swimmer is able to swim at a rate of 75 meters per
minute. How long would it take the swimmer to complete a
1500-meter race? (S8P5a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
20 minutes
75 minutes
112 minutes
1425 minutes
37. While riding in the backseat of a car, a child holds a
cup of juice. When the car suddenly stops, the liquid in the
cup will (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
flow off to one side of the cup
flow toward the back of the cup
flow in the direction the car was moving
stop as suddenly as the car stops
38. Which ball has the MOST potential energy? (S8P2b)
A.
B.
A.
C.
B.
D.
C.
Page 16 of 20
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
D. Yes, the rider and the cattle will arrive at point “X” in
4 minutes
43. A car traveling from Jesup to Macon has an average
velocity of 45 miles per hour. The distance between these
two cities is 149 miles. Approximately how long will it take
the car to complete the trip? (S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
39. If you pull the card away very quickly the button will
fall into the bottom of the cup. This trick works because
the (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
card has gravity
button has inertia
card has kinetic energy
button has potential energy
1.5 hours
2.0 hours
3.0 hours
5.0 hours
44. Which is an example of kinetic energy? (S8P2b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
sitting at a desk reading a book
lifting a book from the floor to the table
holding a bag full of heavy books
pushing against a large tree
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
40. A crumpled sheet of paper will fall to the ground
faster than an uncrumpled sheet because crumpling the
paper (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
causes it to have less mass
causes it to have less air resistance
changes the chemical state of the paper
adds potential energy
41. A roller-coaster car raced down a track going faster
and faster as it neared the bottom of a hill. What term
describes this increase in speed? (S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
inertia
velocity
potential energy
acceleration
Use the picture below to answer the following question.
42. If the horse rider is traveling at a rate of 1 km every
four minutes and the cattle are traveling at a rate of 1 km
every 12 minutes, will the rider meet the cattle at the point
labeled “X” ? (S8P3a)
A. No, the rider will arrive 4 minutes after the cattle pass
point “X”
B. No the rider will arrive 8 minutes after the cattle pass
point “X”
C. Yes the rider and the cattle will arrive at point “X” in
12 minutes
Page 17 of 20
45. Katie was sitting in her wheelchair. When she moved
she changed her energy to (S8P2b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
potential
kinetic
inertia
gravity
Use the incomplete chart of the Beaufort scale below to
answer the following question.
46. The Beaufort scale is used to classify the strength of
the wind. In the scale above, some of the wind’s effects are
missing. Which of the following could be used to describe
the effect of a GENTLE BREEZE?
49. Jacob needs to pull down on a hammer to take a nail
out of a piece of wood. Jacob is using the hammer as
(s8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
(This is an interpolation problem. Relates somewhat to
S8P3b.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Chimney smoke moves straight upward
Buildings are damaged
Flags wave slightly on a flagpole
Tree branches snap off
a lever.
a pulley.
a wheel and axle.
an inclined plane.
Use the picture to answer the following question:
47. Billy was pulling his wagon on the sidewalk. What
should he do to keep the wagon moving? (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Walk behind the wagon.
Apply a force to the wagon.
Put a weight in the wagon.
Walk on the side of the wagon.
50. Two teams are having a tug-of-war. The force used to
get the other team across the line is a (S8P3b)
48. Which direction will the box move when Maria pushes
it? (S8P3b)
A.
B.
A.
B.
C.
D.
push
lever
pulley
pull
Use the picture to answer the following question:
C.
D.
Use the picture to answer the following question:
51. A loading ramp is a simple machine called (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
lever
inclined plane
pulley
screw
52. When you walk on the sidewalk and roll your bike, the
force you use is a (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
pull
pulley
push
lever
53. Which is a simple machine? (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Page 18 of 20
water
chair
pulley
candle
Use the picture to answer the following question:
A.
B.
C.
D.
54. The arrow tells you that the boy is (S8P3a)
A.
B.
C.
D.
standing still
pushing the wagon
pulling the wagon
trying to make the wagon stop
56. Emily is heavier than Blake. Where should she sit to
make the seesaw go up and down? (S8P3c)
Use the picture to answer the following question:
55. A heavy box must be moved from the ground into a
truck. Which picture shows the BEST way to do this?
(S8P3c)
A.
B.
57. The handle that turns the pencil sharpener is which
simple machine? (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
C.
screw
lever
pulley
inclined plane
58. Which could help a person in a wheelchair get from
the street onto the sidewalk? (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
lever
inclined plane
screw
wheel and axle
59. It is easiest to push a box up which ramp? (S8P3c)
D.
Page 19 of 20
Use the picture to answer the following question:
62. Which lever will raise the box using the LEAST force?
(S8P3c)
A.
B.
60. When Dan pushes down on the long end of the board,
what simple machine is he using to lift his father? (S8P3c)
A.
B.
C.
D.
lever
pulley
wedge
wheel
C.
D.
63. A pulley would be used to (S8P3c)
A. cut paper
B. lift an object
Use the picture to answer the following question:
C. split a log
D. hold objects together
64. Which is a list of three forms of energy? (S8P2c)
A. weight, mass, density
B. light, sound, heat
C. volume, speed, pressure
D. force, velocity, speed
61. A strong wind is blowing on the tree. If the tree falls
because of the wind, which way would it fall? (S8P3b)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Page 20 of 20
65. Bill wants to lift a box up to the second floor of a barn.
Which simple machine should he use? (S8P3c)
A. wheel
B. wedge
C. incline plane
D. pulley